Prices Up but Pressure Remains: Corn and Soybean Growers Still Navigating Tight Margins

A new report co-authored by the National Corn Growers Association and American Soybean Association documents ongoing economic pressures across farm country, despite recent price improvements in both commodity markets. The report analyzes and summarizes the results of a survey conducted by Farm Journal of 1,200 corn and soybean farmers across the country.

"It's an interesting time to receive this feedback from corn and soybean growers," said Krista Swanson, NCGA Chief Economist. "Corn prices have improved substantially in recent weeks, which helps grower sentiment. But farm profitability doesn't reset in one market move or one crop year. We saw a high level of concern in last year's survey, and even with stronger prices today, this shows many growers are still managing financial pressure that has built over multiple crop cycles."

Survey results show nearly two-thirds of growers are moderately or very concerned about the farm economy, and 46% are more concerned about their farm financial situation than they were a year ago. Although both measures improved from the comparable 2025 survey, they continue to signal a situation of high concern rather than a return to financial stability.

Despite recent improvements to grain markets, survey showed farmer expectations for the 2026 crop leave little room to absorb additional cost increases. Not all growers are able to capture the benefits of those improvements equally, or potentially at all. Price improvements also do not address high input costs, which remain a key concern among farmers. This reflects the complex nature of on-farm economics, in which business decisions for a single growing season often stretch across multiple years, from the purchase of inputs through the marketing of harvested crops.

"What stands out in these results is how little margin for error farmers have right now," said Scott Gerlt, ASA Chief Economist. "Even with some improvement in crop prices, the cost of putting a crop in the ground remains high. When nearly half of growers say they are more concerned about their financial situation than they were a year ago, it's a reminder that stronger markets alone haven't resolved the economic challenges on the farm."

The survey captures a farm economy under pressure even as commodity markets improve. For policymakers and the agricultural supply chain, the survey highlights how sensitive farm profitability remains to pressure from fuel, energy, fertilizer, and other production costs.

Read the full report here.